Profile of Services Available
The report below describes local requirements for burial, cremation, embalming, preparation of remains for shipment, transportation to the United States, exhumation of remains, and the price range for each service.
The following information is submitted in accordance with the referenced requirements. Various area mortuaries were surveyed to compile this data. The laws cited are from the Dutch Burial and Cremation Act (Wet of de lijkbezorging, Wlb)
Part I. Name of Country
The Netherlands
Part II. U.S. Consulate General Amsterdam
Address: Museumplein 19, 1071 DJ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Phone: +31 (0)70 310 2209
State Department Country Specific Information:
Registration with the U.S. Consulate:
Part III. Profile of Services available in the Netherlands regarding preparation and shipment of remains:
Both burial and cremation are common in the Netherlands. Hospitals and most funeral homes have refrigerated morgues. Police stations and hospitals usually have local funeral home contacts available for families of deceased individuals.
The Netherlands is a small country and transportation between the different locations is usually facilitated by automotive transport.
Autopsies are generally only performed when death is not due to natural causes. In cases where death is due to an infectious disease, the Ministry of Health will determine how the remains may be disposed.
International Airport Schiphol is the Netherlands’ main international airport, located 20 minutes southwest of Amsterdam, in the municipality of Haarlemmermeer. The airport is the primary European gateway for major airlines to the United States, such as KLM, British Airways, Delta, United, and American Airlines.
(1) Maximum period before Burial of Remains:
Dutch law requires disposition of remains not earlier than 36 hours, and not later than 6 working days after death. The mandatory six-day period for disposition may be extended by local officials at the request of the party making funeral arrangements.
The undertaker handling the funeral arrangements files a report of death with the Civil Registry, which is responsible for issuing burial/cremation permits. In cases where death has not occurred due to natural causes, the District Attorney must release the body before disposition will be permitted to take place.
(2) Embalming:
Embalming facilities are available locally and arranged through the local funeral home. Embalming is required for transportation of the remains outside the Netherlands. Next-of-kin normally advise the funeral home, if for religious reasons, the remains should not be embalmed. Local practice places less emphasis on cosmeticizing the remains than in the United States.
(3) Cremation:
Dutch law requires disposition of remains not earlier than 36 hours, and not later than 6 working days after death. Cremation is permitted and crematoriums are located in most major cities. A permit must be obtained from the Civil Registry before cremation can take place.
(4) Caskets and Containers:
Coffins are available for cremation, local burial or international shipment of remains. For air shipment, a hermetically sealed zinc lined coffin is required.
(5) Exportation of Human Remains:
Local requirements for the exportation of human remains to the United States are as follows:
1. Mortuary certificate
2. Dutch death certificate
3. Undertaker’s affidavit
4. Coffin statement
5. Embalming certificate
6. Laissez-Passer
7. Permission to bury/cremate/dispose of remains
(6) Exportation of Ashes:
There are no requirements for importation into the United States if human remains consist entirely of the following: clean, dry bones, or bone fragments, human hair. You can find more information on the CBP website
Local requirements for the exportation of ashes are as follows:
a) Official Death Certificate (international version)
b) International Cremation Declaration
c) Statement from U.S. funeral home undertaking to accept ashes for disposition (the airline usually contacts the U.S. funeral home to obtain this)
d) Shipment of ashes can only take place after the mandatory one month resting period has expired. Dutch law permits the shipment of ashes to private individuals.
If you want to have the ashes shipped to the United States, the funeral home should be able to help you with this.
(7) Approximate Costs:
The estimated cost of funeral arrangements in the Netherlands can range between €5,000 – €12,000. These costs are an indication only and will vary depending on the services provided, where the remains must be transported from/to, the quality of desired casket and personal preferences.
Special religious or other requirements regarding preparation and shipment may also incur additional costs.
Your chosen funeral home will be able to talk you through all the available options and costs involved regarding cremation, burial, repatriation of the body or shipment of the ashes to the U.S.
(8) Exhumation:
Authorization for exhumation of remains must be obtained from the mayor of the Dutch municipality where the burial took place. In addition to the documentation listed in (5), an exhumation permit must accompany the remains if shipped out of the country. Exhumation costs depend on the municipality in which the interment took place.
